Follower block for draft gears



' June 1935. H. E. BARTSCH FOLLQWER BLOCK FOR DRAFT GEARS Filed Aug. 26, 1932 Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED STATES FOLLOWER BLOCK FOR DRAFT GEARS Herbert E. Bartsch, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Universal Draft Gear Attachment 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 26,

2 Claims.

The invention relates to that type of followers for draft gears which involve the use of a key for limiting the movement of the follower in one direction and transmitting the forces to the car framing. Such blocks may be used at both ends of the gear, or at but one end. For the purpose of illustrating the invention the forward block, adapted to be interposed between the butt of the coupler shank and the draft gear, is used.

The object of the invention is to provide for ample compressive strength of the block, while reducing its weight as much as possible; and it consists of a structure as hereinafter described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a plan view of the block;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation viewed from its forward end;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation.

The block is an integral casting, and comprises end plates I0, I I, the former being of ample area to engage the end of the draft gear or shock absorbing elements, and the latter being of approximately the size of the end face of the coupler butt with which it will be associated, and is provided with a central stud I2, as is usual in devices of this character, for entering a complementary 30 socket in the end of the coupler and thus maintaining the two parts in alinement.

The two end plates are united by webs so configured and disposed as to leave comparatively small areas of the end plates without direct support. A pair of these webs I3, I4, extend transversely of the block and from end to end thereof, and are spaced apart to provide a key-way or slot I5. Being located, respectively, above and below the horizontal central plane of the 40 block, and being united at their ends by merging fillets I6, H, the key slot is round at its sides, and the horizontal zones of the two end plates are thereby thickened, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The dimension of the webs I3, I4, transversely of the block coincides with the width of the end plate I0, and consequently the webs project beyond the side margins of the plate II, as shown in Fig. 1.

A pair of L-shaped webs I8, I9, unite each of the portions of the end plates which are above and below the key slot. One arm of each of these webs extends vertically from the adjacent web I3 or I4, these two webs being located near and at either side of the central vertical plane of the block and their length being such that their outer margins terminate at the top or bottom margin of the smaller end plate II. The other arm of each of the L-shaped webs projects laterally outward, its margin at one end coinciding with the 1932, Serial No. 630,555

side margin of the smaller end plate II, and its margin at the other end extending approximately to the side margin of the larger end plate III.

In order to strengthen the upper and lower portions of the larger end plate I0, which extend beyond the L-shaped webs, gusset flanges, as 20, 2|, unite these portions of the end plate with the upper and lower faces of the L-shaped webs.

These gusset flanges may be as numerous as may be deemed advisable. Preferably one pair, as 2|, is located in line with the vertical sections of the L-shaped webs, and another pair, as 20, at or adjacent to the outer ends of the horizontal portions of these webs. I

The webs I3, I4, are straight from side to side of the block. As shown at 22, each of them is apertured along the central vertical plane of the block for convenience in molding, the elimination of this metal serving to contribute to the lightening of the block.

As the various webs and flanges are so disposed as to leave quite small areas of the end plates without direct support, notwithstanding the omission of side walls, the block constitutes a column of ample strength to resist all possible forces developed in service. Notwithstanding its great strength the block is comparatively light in weight.

The form and disposition of the various elements of the structure may be variously modified within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention- 1. A follower block for draft gears comprising two end walls, a pair of straight transverse webs uniting the end walls and spaced to define a keyway, a pair of imperfcrate relatively spaced vertical webs extending from the first-named webs adjacent the center line of the block and uniting the end walls as solid columns, and an imperfcrate horizontal web extending laterally outward from the end of each vertical web and uniting the end walls, said webs forming sets on opposite sides of the key-way, the webs of each set being connected to form laterally open channels.

2. A follower block for draft gears comprising two end walls, a pair of straight transverse webs uniting the end walls and spaced to define a keyway, a pair of imperforate relatively spaced vertical webs extending from the first-named webs adjacent the center line of the block and uniting the end walls as solid columns, and an imperfcrate horizontal web extending laterally outward from the end of each verticalweb approximately to the margins of and uniting the end walls, said webs forming sets on opposite sides of the keyway, the webs of each set being connected to form laterally open channels.

HERBERT El BARTSCH. 

